Swift Transportation Increases Sales but Misses Estimates on Earnings

Swift Transportation (NYSE: SWFT  ) reported earnings on April 19. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended March 31 (Q1), Swift Transportation beat expectations on revenues and missed estimates on earnings per share.

Compared to the prior-year quarter, revenue grew and GAAP earnings per share increased.

Margins increased across the board.

Revenue details
Swift Transportation chalked up revenue of $826.9 million. The 13 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ anticipated a top line of $804.7 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 9.0% higher than the prior-year quarter's $758.9 million.

Source: S&P Capital IQ. Quarterly periods. Dollar amounts in millions. Non-GAAP figures may vary to maintain comparability with estimates.

EPS details
EPS came in at $0.04. The 12 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ forecast $0.10 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.04 for Q1 were 100% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.02 per share.

Source: S&P Capital IQ. Quarterly periods. Non-GAAP figures may vary to maintain comparability with estimates.

Margin details
For the quarter, gross margin was 19.6%, 150 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 6.6%, 70 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 0.7%, 30 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $874.2 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.21.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $3.49 billion. The average EPS estimate is $0.86.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a five-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 21 members out of 22 rating the stock outperform, and one member rating it underperform. Among eight CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), eight give Swift Transportation a green thumbs-up.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Swift Transportation is outperform, with an average price target of $14.07.

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